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Re: Are Forms in MS Word Accessible?

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From: chagnon
Date: Dec 1, 2021 4:41PM

We use the same process detailed by Karen and Elizabeth, and teach that method in our Forms classes.
We don't put any form controls in the Word document, but do make it a fully accessible Word file and export to a tagged, accessible PDF. This makes all of the visual portions fully accessible (we call this part the form skeleton) and then proceed to adding the form fields in Acrobat.

But personally, I use Adobe InDesign for my forms:
1. Better design control of the entire document.
2. Faster form design. (It's so slow to do this in Acrobat.)
3. Can anchor the form fields directly into the correct reading order.
4. Exports a nearly (not quite perfect) PDF form.

The InDesign route also makes it easier to edit or update the form down the road. Make the changes in InDesign, re-export a tagged PDF, and you're pretty much good to go.

Some 3rd-party plug-ins for InDesign allow scripts to be added to the form fields in InDesign, too.

—Bevi Chagnon
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Bevi Chagnon | Designer, Accessibility Technician | <EMAIL REMOVED>
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PubCom: Technologists for Accessible Design + Publishing
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